A case of panic disorder induced by oral contraceptive
Ushiroyama, T.; Okamoto, Y.; Toyoda, K.; Sugimoto, O.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 71(1): 78-80
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6349 PMID: 1315108 DOI: 10.3109/00016349209007956Document Number: 318676
Panic attacks occur more often in females than males with onset usually in the late 20s. A 27-year old woman who experienced a panic attach (heart palpitations, fatigue, bodily shaking, labored breathing, and feelings of terror and being out of control) after she stopped taking a combined oral contraceptive (COC) (.5 norgestrel and .05 mg ethinyl estradiol) was admitted to Osaka Medical College in Takatsuki, Japan. She experienced depression at 18 and took limited amounts of antidepressants for only 1 year. When she started taking the COC at 27, she experienced feelings of unreality and fear, hyperventilation, and heart palpitations. Laboratory results showed lower than normal levels of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and a low estradiol level. Yet the plasma cortisol level was much high than normal (22.5 mcg/d1 vs. 3-15.2 mcg/d1). Administration of 200 mg sulpiride/day and 1.2 mg alprazolam/day alleviated almost all symptoms. She did experience mild phobic avoidance and anxiety, however. After successful treatment in the hospital, she discharged herself. Because she was concerned that the panic attacks would recur, she was provided with information on her disorder. She agreed to continue the medication. 1 possible explanation for this case is rapid endocrinological change induced by the ingestion and stopping of the COC which in turn induced a sympatho-adrenal response (her high cortisol levels) to several simple physiological stimuli. Another possible explanation is the COC induced rapid endocrinological changes that may have brought on an anxiotropic effect in someone who had earlier experienced depression.